Santos Sponsor Terminates Deal With Club Over Robinho Signing ‘In Respect To Women Who Use Our Product’

A Santos shirt sponsor has cut ties with the club after former player Robinho's return - stating it is out of respect to female customers.

The Brazilian has joined Santos for a third time after leaving Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir at the end of last season.

But dentistry firm Orthopride have severed ties due to the 36-year-old's return, following his rape conviction in 2017.

Robinho was sentenced to nine years in prison by an Italian court for his alleged role in the gang rape of an Albanian woman in 2013.

Orthopride chief operating officer Richard Adam told Globo Esporte: "We have enormous respect for Santos' history. But at this point, we have decided to terminate the sponsorship contract.

"Our audience is mostly female and, out of respect for the women who buy our products, we had to make that decision.

"We want to make it clear that we were not previously informed about the signing of Robinho, we were taken by surprise by the news over the weekend."

The former Real Madrid star is currently appealing his conviction, for which he has served no jail time at the time of writing.

He has a five month deal with Santos and has taken a massive hit on his wages.

According to reports, his basic monthly salary is just 1,500 Brazilian reals - which equates to £207.

It's £50 a week and a far cry from the £160,000 he was on when he made a shock £32.5 million deadline day move to Manchester City in 2008.

Despite the deal being shrouded in controversy, Santos president Orlando Rollo staunchly defended the winger and stressed the club are against violence towards women.

He begun: "From the information I have, there is no final decision by the Italian Judiciary.

"The process is still ongoing, and will be heard in other instances.

"Santos has historically always been against any kind of violence, especially violence against women, and will continue to be."

Robinho's lawyers claim he should be considered innocent at this time.